quadratic

/kwɑˈdrædɪk/

Other forms: quadratics

In math, quadratic things have something to do with squaring them — in other words, multiplying a number times itself or raising it to the second power.

When you come across a math problem that includes "X squared," it's quadratic. In algebra, it's especially common to use the quadratic equation, which has this form: ax squared plus bx plus c equals 0. The word quadratic comes up in calculus and statistics, too, and it can also be used to mean "square." In fact, the Latin root quadratus also means "square."

Definitions of quadratic

1. adjective

   of or relating to the second power
   “quadratic equation”
2. adjective

   of or relating to or resembling a square
   “quadratic shapes”
3. noun

   a polynomial of the second degree
   synonyms: quadratic polynomial

   type of:

   multinomial, polynomial

   a mathematical function that is the sum of a number of terms
4. noun

   an equation in which the highest power of an unknown quantity is a square
   synonyms: quadratic equation

   type of:

   equation

   a mathematical statement that two expressions are equal